Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected tinnitus was denied. The RO evaluated his bilateral hearing loss as 10 percent disabling and did not remand or grant a compensable rating. Service connection for colon cancer remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury and headaches, prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that a hearing loss disability of the right ear did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. A sensorineural hearing loss was not exhibited within the first post-service year.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for memory loss, PTSD, hemorrhoids, bilateral knee condition, headache disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. However, these claims have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between any current disabilities and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating at any time since the award of service connection based on the standard rating criteria. Therefore, his initial rating claim for an initial compensable rating is denied.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be adjudicated.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for bilateral hearing loss, left foot plantar fasciitis, and a left knee disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and a low back disability was denied as there is no evidence of hearing impairment or a low back disorder during service, and the current disorders are not related to service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus began in service and continued since, warranting a grant of service connection. The issue of hearing loss is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus had their onset during active service, warranting service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed respiratory disability due to lack of evidence linking it to service. Bilateral hearing loss was also not found to be incurred in or aggravated by service. Tinnitus was likewise not linked to service.,The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no showing that the condition was incurred during active duty.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a skin condition including as secondary to exposure to Agent Orange prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's initial claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted, and he is now receiving a 10 percent disability rating since July 26, 2012. The decision also addressed his increased rating claim, which was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is due to in-service acoustic trauma, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability and denied service connection for residuals of cold injury to the lower extremities. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to have onset in service, while there is no evidence of current residuals from his alleged cold injuries.

The Veteran's combined evaluation for compensation is 60 percent, which does not meet the threshold for a schedular TDIU rating. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions and new evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cold injury residuals of the left and right feet, kidney disorder, and urinary condition. The decisions are based on a finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is rated at Level IV in the left ear and Level II in the right ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 6260.